ACEA Competitiveness Award 2013 goes to College of Europe graduate

Ms Behr’s thesis examines the centrality in intermediates trade to the health of global supply chains and upon economic growth. Her work, which focuses on ASEAN, demonstrates that the fragmentation of production and the lengthening of supply chains has allowed for the inclusion of more and more trading partners, allowing these countries to improve their global competitiveness.

Ms Behr’s work is highly relevant to the European automotive industry, given its particularly complex supply chains, as well as in the context of the many ongoing trade negotiations currently being undertaken by the EU. The author examined the effect of the trade in intermediate goods by conducting a thorough literature review and econometric analysis. The results of the econometric study confirmed the findings of the academic literature, showing a positive trade-growth nexus.

Ms Behr concluded that imports in intermediaries exert a significant and positive influence on ASEAN’s growth performance. Ivan Hodac, ACEA Secretary General, applauded the work saying, “given ASEAN’s importance as Europe’s third-largest trading partner, an understanding of the region is vital if European companies are to make the most of the genuine business opportunities to be found there.” “This thesis demonstrates profound understanding and clear-headed thinking about this trade and competitiveness issue. We congratulate Ms Behr on her excellent work.”